Jacobson/Carson Chapter 7

Question 1

Policy congruence patters: Dem/Rep close to own district partisans median

Answer 1

1. Both sides generally align with their districts in voting on policy not surprisingly despite different sides of the political spectrum
2. Republican more extreme conservatively driven than Dems as liberal

Question 2

Why “Two-way communication is essential to representation”

Answer 2

1. Congressmen accessible to constituents

2. Accessibility attracts voting support for congressmen

Question 3

Why members become spokespeople for interests/causes not in constituencies

Answer 3

1. Pleases their constituents

2. To help generate funds for themselves from groups

Question 4

Particularism

Answer 4

1. Focus on policies with particular benefits for targeted groups to consolidate power/funding/benefits
2. Prone to be overproduced/inefficient

Question 5

Serving the organized

Answer 5

1. Congress serves loudest/best funded groups/causes
2. Organized groups can target selected Congress members to be removed on their voting patterns/alignment
3. Promotes less compromise between parties

Question 6

Responsiveness (individual) without responsibility (collective)

Answer 6

1. Delivers benefits to individuals/groups while disadvantaging other aspects
2. Only force on collective responsibility in Congress is political party affiliation

Question 7

Ideological polarization trends

Answer 7

1. Consolidate party agendas in Congress to gain power and obtain better position
2. Greater power to parties to hold elected accountable

Question 8

Significance of Decline in shared electoral constituencies

Answer 8

1. More consistent self-identification of voters and consistent voting
2. Grouping of politically leaning constituencies together via gerrymandering

Question 9

Why Congress is less popular as a body than individuals

Answer 9

1. Gridlock/stalemates in gov’t with two strong parties angers people
2. Individuals receive less blame as they don’t make/break most voting decisions

Question 10

Why congressional unpopularity is inevitable

Answer 10

1. People hate the way congress works

2. Want efficient/fair officials

Question 11

Conditions under which Congress is most popular

Answer 11

1. During times of peace
2. Booming economy
3. Successful deals between Congress/President

Question 12

Reasons why term limits won’t improve Congressional performance/representation

Answer 12

1. Hurts good political members of both parties
2. More focused on special interests
3. Population less informed on voting decisions